Chapter 3, The Old Poison
Yuan Wang shook his head
Yuan Wang boarded the bus at the bus station of the detention center and arrived at Newtown District 3 half an hour later. He then transferred to a taxi and returned to the apartment building he rented
Yuan Wang sat in front of the woman, drying his hair with a towel. The woman took out several documents from her briefcase: "Private Investigator License, Bounty Hunter License, Bodyguard License"
Five minutes later, Yuan Wang, wearing only shorts and bare-chested, walked out of the bathroom and approached the wardrobe to grab a T-shirt, saying: "Boss, this is trespassing."
Old Poison: "To seek freedom from constraints, one must certainly be a bounty hunter. However, bounty hunters typically operate in teams, which may consist of couples, parent-child pairs, or comrades. A good bounty hunter team prefers quality over quantity and is unlikely to easily accept newcomers."
No, I am near your house
Yuan Wang nodded: "Alright"
The old poison finished off the beer in front of him and took a breath: "The insurance company has arranged a team of people responsible for ensuring the safety of all the jewelry. The manager of Liu Yun's studio, who is also Liu Yun's agent, is concerned about the potential harm that the jewelry might bring to Liu Yun, so he contacted the New Tang Security Company. However, New Tang Security Company is short-staffed. They asked if there was anyone available on our side, regardless of skills, as long as they are young and reliable enough to fill the numbers."
Set aside the suit, set aside the worries. Yuan Wang opened the cabinet, took out half a bottle of whiskey, poured half a glass, and drank it in one gulp. The fiery alcohol surged in his chest, Yuan Wang moved his shoulders, walked to the hanging sandbag, and used exercise to accelerate the metabolism of the alcohol.
Yuan Wang reached for his phone and dialed: "Old Du, I need some money over here." Where did Yuan Wang's salary go? That remains to be seen
The little girl, with her hair styled in a ponytail, imitating adults by wearing sunglasses, sat on the table at the entrance of the apartment building. In her left hand, she held a mobile phone, while her right hand grasped a stick. She swung her legs, operated the phone with one hand, and horizontally positioned the stick in her right hand to block Yuan Wang's path: "Brother, it's time to pay the rent"
The noisy bar was filled with pulsating music, as the crowd swayed their hips to the rhythm, shouting and lost in the moment, seemingly eager to release all the stress from the day's work
The woman took her seat and looked at Yuan Wang: "My friend is short on manpower over in the Middle East, offering three hundred dollars a day."
The old man took an envelope out of his pocket and said, "Here, take this five thousand dollars and spend it for now"
Old Poison One Finger Yuan Wang: "Don't give me that routine."
Yuan Wang laughed and put the envelope in his pocket: "What I mean is, isn't 5,000 a bit too little?"
Yuan Wangshun tidied up, washing the cup that the woman had used, getting himself a can of cola, and throwing the business cards on the table into the nearby trash bin
Old Poison wore a cheap gray suit, looking like a down-and-out middle-aged man, drinking alone at the edge of the bar. Yuan Wang raised his hand to the bartender: "Tonic water." He sat down next to Old Poison.
... ...
Yuan Wang rolled his eyes in vain and decisively interrupted: "I understand, it is very expensive"
Old Du pondered for a moment: "These three professions are quite suitable, it seems your superior has put some thought into it. Let me analyze it for you. First, there is the private detective. Given your current reputation, starting your own practice is unrealistic; I recommend you find a detective agency, take some photographs, and you could earn around a few thousand in a month.
Old Poison: "24-hour on-call lifestyle and work system, available at any time, subject to assignment. Four hundred dollars per day. Work starts the day after tomorrow"
Xiao Cui: "Three days"
Old Du, aged 45, is Yuan Wang's instructor at the police academy. Three years ago, he resigned to become a self-employed agent, and he possesses a wealth of unique human resources. These include retired intelligence personnel, former Navy SEALs, and ex-Secret Service bodyguards, among others. The relationship between Old Du and Yuan Wang is quite extraordinary, though the specifics of this extraordinary nature will remain unspoken for now
Old Du rolled his eyes and took out a business card from his wallet: "There is a short-term bodyguard job available. The singer Liu Yun is going to hold a week-long tour in Newtown, which includes a concert, a fan meeting, and a signing event"
Just like when you introduce a movie to a friend, and when you reach the climax, you can't help but raise your arm and shout. Your friend, seemingly unbothered, responds: "I know, it’s great." Such a blow can turn one's passionate excitement into anger, leaving one with no outlet for their feelings, which can be suffocating.
Come out
Yuan Wang reached out to take a look at the license
Old Poison asked: "What are your own plans?"
Yuan Wang reached out to take the cigar from Old Du's hand, trimming it as he spoke: "Two years of undercover work, one year of seclusion, I feel like I have already become disconnected from this world"
The woman placed the business card on the table: "Green Zone Corporate Security, the danger is not significant, please consider it. If you agree, just give him a call."
"None of your business." The music was loud, and the two were sitting very close to each other. Although it appeared to be a public setting, it felt safer to converse there than in a private one
Twenty minutes later, Yuan Wang, drenched in sweat, took off his soaked shirt and walked into the shower room. Yuan Wang had a strong physique, but he was not the kind of muscular person with excessive bulk; he was simply solid.
Liu Yun is the spokesperson for the Mars Jewelry Group. According to the contract stipulations, Liu Yun will showcase fifteen pieces of jewelry at three public appearances. Among them is a piece called the Black Fire Meteor, which is an extremely rare black ruby. The black ruby...
Yuan Wang: "Thank you!" Yuan Wang gathered the documents together
Yuan Wang: "Thank you, thank you"
Old Poison: "The bodyguards are quite good; individuals from law enforcement agencies are in high demand and have always been a key target for major security companies. With your level of expertise, a monthly salary of several thousand is always attainable."
Yuan Wang nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes."
Yuan Wang is sorry: "I ... ... "
The woman stood up, went to the liquor cabinet, and added a bottle of cream liqueur to the whiskey: "With three years of experience working in the field for the Federal Marshals and a record of leaving without blemish, that is all I can do"
Cut! Old poison: What license?
Old Poison: "I told you long ago: do not go undercover, do not go undercover. Is your head filled with water, that you cannot listen to reason?"
Bodyguard, Hunter, and Detective
Yuan Wang: "Alright, thank you"
Yuan Wang shrugged his shoulders, neither affirming nor denying.
Yuan Wangdao: "You are sending a police officer to the battlefield; this is a crime"
The door opened, and a woman in her thirties entered the room carrying a briefcase. She closed the door and casually poured herself a small glass of whiskey from the bottle on the table. Just as she raised the glass without drinking, Yuan Wang, holding a gun, took cover outside the bathroom and aimed at the woman. The two exchanged glances, and Yuan Wang retreated back.
Xiao Cui did not lift her head: "Brother, you should also understand the difficulties we face as landlords, right? I have to manage my studies while also collecting rent from four buildings, busy as a dog. If everyone delays for a few days, how will I have time to study? As a flower, without the fertilizer of learning, how can I grow? Should I let my children continue to collect rent in the future?"
Xiao Cui waved her stick, signaling Yuan Wang that he could leave
Yuan Wang: "Poison God?"
This is a very ordinary four-story apartment building, belonging to private property. The landlord is a businessman who spends most of the year abroad. The rent is collected by his daughter, a fourteen-year-old girl
Yuan Wang: "He gave me three licenses"
The bar opened a can of tonic water, added lemon and ice cubes, tossed in a green leaf, and pushed the glass towards Yuan Wang. Yuan Wang caught it, took a casual sip, and asked: "Old Du, your white hair is increasing more and more."
407 is a rental property belonging to Yuan Wang, measuring 60 square meters, consisting of one bedroom, one living room, one kitchen, and one bathroom
Old Poison: "After eliminating the guerrilla fighters, do you feel a sense of accomplishment?"
Yuan Wang laughed and said: "Xiao Cui! Recently, I have been a bit short on funds, could you possibly extend the deadline by a few days?"
Old Poison: "I heard you carried a big pot on your back, didn't your boss find it amusing at all?"
The woman wanted to say something but ultimately did not. She nodded to Yuan Wang and left the room
When it comes to gemstones, Old Du cannot help but speak at length. Old Du eloquently introduces the history of this black-red gemstone, which can be traced back through historical records to the kings of ancient Spain. It has direct connections with Henry V and Richard III.